Submarine boat



P. B. BRILL.

SUBMARINE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED APR,13. 191s.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I 3441: "to;

I .P. B. BRILL. v

SUBMAR'INE'BOAT. e APPLICATION FILED AISR. 1-3, 1918. 1,330,755. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET' 2.

P. B. BRILL.

SUBMARINE BOAT.

APPLICATION ElLED APR. 13, 1918.

I 1 ,330,755. Patented Feb. 10; 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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PHILIP B. BRILL, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CGNNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAKE 'IORPEDO BOAT COMPANY OF .IVIAINE, OF BRIDGE PQRT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

sUBMARIi'rE BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed April 13, 1918. Serial No. 228,367.

tion.

The invention has particular reference to that class of submarine or submersible boats embodying a superstructure adapted to be rendered water-tight when the boat is operating upon the surface, and open to the :surrounding body of water when the boat 1s operating submerged, such as those as distinguished by the Lake type of boats. Heretofore in this type of beats, it has been the practice to arrange the valves controlling the inlet and outlet of water to and from the space formed by and between the main hull and the superstructure of the boat through the sides of the superstructure. These valves are arranged to open outwardly, and hence form: considerable resistance when the boat is operating submerged, and in consequence, retard the speed of the boat.

The object of my invention is to avoid these objections, and hence to' eliminate such speed resisting surfaces y The invention consists in arranging a channel or channels athwart-ships'of the superstructure, and in providing perforated plates at the ends of the channels whereby 35 to throw the latter into open communication with the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, and in arranging valves in the walls of the channels for controlling the inlet? and outlet ofwater to and from the space formed by the superstructure, said valves being operable from within the "main hull of the boat inysubstantially the same manner as that now employed for operating the valves opening through the sides of the superstructure, it, of course, being understood that the perforations in the plates covering the ends of the channel or channels are of sulficient area to permit a sufiicient quantity of water to have access to the valve openings controlling the admission of the water to the'superstructure space so that the superstructure space may be filled'as rapidly asin the present arrange ment of the side valves.

The invention comprises certain details of tion of the invention. longitudinal sectional view drawn on a construction and novel arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and then claimed.

In the drawings, illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional plan view drawn through the forward end of the superstruc- .ture of av submarine or submersible boat embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same drawn on the line a.

a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a. similar view showing a slightly modified construc- Fig. i is a detail larger scale on the line b-Z) of Fig. l.

1 designates the forward end of a submarine or submersible boat having a superstructure 2 arranged thereon which is adapted to be maintained normally water-tight when the'boatis operating upon the sur ace, such as those which are commonly known as the Lake type of submarine boats.

Heretofore it has been the practice, in watertight superstructures, to provide valves upon the sides of the substantially vertical walls of the superstructure for controlling the admission of water to the space or spaces within the superstructure. These valves, of necessity open outwardly, as do other valves; of a su marine boat controlling theadmission of water to the several compartn'ients ofthe boat. Obviously, it is apparent that when avvalve is arranged in the --1l1 tl11 l1 ull,'01 1n the superstructure, and de-- signed tobe opened outwardly, that frictional surfaces are provided which tend to invention seeks to overcome these object-ions,

as willbe hereinafter fully explained.

The aforesaid superstructure 2 is pro- 1 vided at suitable points throughout the length of the boat with athwart-ships channelwa-ys 8 extending through the superstructure and having their ends covered by perforated plates 4 adapted for throwing the channelways into open communication with the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged. The vertical walls 5 of the channelways '3 are provided with one'ormore openings 6, which are surrounded by castings 7 providing valve seats for valves 8, the stems 8 of the valves being supported at their outer ends in bearings 9 preferably carried by the castings 7, and having their inner ends threaded through hubs of beveled gears 12 journaled in bearings 10 supported upon the main hull of the boat. The stems of the valves are provided with keyways 11 to receive keys 11 formed on the bearings 10, to prevent the stems from rotating. Beveled gears 12 are threaded upon the stems 8, and the gears 12 are meshed with beveled gears 13 carried at the upper end of shafts 1%, provided with beveled gears 17 mounted in suitable bearings 18 supported within the vessel. The gears 17 are meshed by operating gears 19 carried at the outer end of shafts 20 each having its inner end provided with a hand operated wheel 21, whereby, through the rotation of the shafts 20, the valves will be moved toward or away from their seats.

As is the prevailing practice, the superstructures of submarine boats have their outer or substantially vertical walls connected to the hull at points below the extreme upper surface of the main hull, thereby forming pockets upon either side of the space formed by and between the superstructure and the main hull, which neces sarily prevents complete drainage of all waters collected therein when the said space is filled upon the submergence of the boat. In order to avoid this ob ection, I purpose constructing the main hull of the boat, be tween the vertical walls of the transverse partitions 5, with depressions 22, and to locate the valves adjacent to the outer sides of said transverse partitions, well down within the depressions 22, so thatwhen the said valves are open, the entire contents of the superstructure will be drained outboard when the boat emerges;

I do not want to be limited to this construction, however, as it will be apparent, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, that the lower corners, formed by and between the outer walls of the superstructure and the main hull of the boat, may be filled in with cement or other suitable material, whereby to prevent the collection and retention of water, or I may employ auxiliary valve controlled openings 6 to release the water, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. y

I have shown my invention as having three valves controlling the inlet to the several compartments of the superstructure of a submarine boat, but it will, of course, be understood that I am not limiting myself to such details as it will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art to which the invention relates that one or more valves may be employed as is necessary. This, however,

the gearing controlling the opening and closing of the valves 8, whereby each set of valves may be simultaneously operated through one operation of a single hand or power controlled wheel 21.

It will be appreciated that while the perforations in the plates covering the ends of the athwart-ships channels will necessarily ofi'er slight resistances, nevertheless, from experiments, it has been proven that such obstructions are infinitesimal compared with the obstructions occasioned by the valves and their stems when arranged upon and projected beyond the sides of the boat.

Since the constructions of water-tight superstructures are well known in the art, applicant has not thought it necessary to show the hull of a boat in its entirety, nor that of the superstructure arranged upon the boat, and, therefore, confines his illustration to only a portion of the forward end of a boat.

Applicant further desires it understood that any number of athwart-ships channels may be employed throughout the length of the boat; and furthermore, that any specific details, other than those shown, may be employed for operating the valves for controlling the admission of water to the space or spaces within the superstructure.

It will also be appreciated that stuflingboxes 15 will be arranged around the shafts 14 to prevent ingress of water to the interior of the main hull of the boat, said stuffingboxes being connected to the plating of the main hull as shown in Fig. 4.

j What I claim is 1. In a submarine boat, a normally watertight superstructure built thereon, and having'continuous athwart-ship channels open at each end to the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, and

means for controlling the ingress and egress 'of water to'and from the space or spaces formed by and within the superstructure.

2. In a submarine boat, a normally watertight superstructure built thereon, having continuous athwart-ship channels in open communication at each end with the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, the walls of said channels having openings communicating with the spaces formed by and between said superstructure and the main hull of the boat, and valves controlling said openings.

3. In a submarine boat, a normally watertight superstructure built thereon, having continuous athwart-ship channels in open communication at each end with the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, the walls of said channels having openings communicating with the spaces formed by and between said superstructure and the main hull of the boat, outwardly opening valves controlling said openings, and means for operating said valves from within the main hull of the boat.

4. In a submarine boat, having a normally water-tight superstructure built thereon, said superstructure having continuous athwart-ship channels in open communication at each end with the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, the walls of said channels having openings cominunicating with the spaces formed by and between said superstructure and the main hull of the boat, outwardly opening valves controlling said openings, means for operating said Valves from within the main hull of the boat, and perforated plates covering the ends of said channels.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of April, A. D. 1918.

PHILIP B. BRILL.

Witnesses:

R. P. MILLS, W. G. ESMOND. 

